Merlin
Copyright 1998 by Michelle Dockrey
Based on _The Crystal Cave_ and _The Hollow Hills_ by Mary Stewart
Am E F Dm
The dark brooding boy in a corner alone
Am(Am/E) F E E7
Whom power and vision so young the gods gave
Am E F Dm
The future foretold in the bright crystal cave
Am E E Am (Am/C)
The ruler of legend reborn to the throne
He was feared and avoided, the dark young man grown
A demon, folk whispered, must sure be his sire
He faced down their murder with magic and fire
And his true sire the Dragon King named him his own
The Dragon King died to defend his land's might
His son saw his mem'ry would ever be known
The Giant's Dance lifted, the circle of stone
"His grave I will deck with no less than the light."
Chorus:
Am Am Dm Am
By gods and by stars and by magic's bright spark
Am Am F E
He labored his life for the legend restored
Am Am7 Dm Dm7
The King to be shield and living sword
Am/C Am E Am
That Britain might not go down into the dark
The Dragon King's brother, the new king by right
In love with another lord's lady was he
"Enchanter," he begged, "thou must bring her to me!"
And the prophesied child was begotten that night
But while the King lay with the lady entwined
Her lord in a battle was slain unforeseen
"Had thou but foretold this, I still would be clean
This bastard I will not acknowledge as mine."
The widowed lady the King took to wife
And the child of the vision was born to the Queen
"Enchanter," she begged, "Thou must take him unseen
And raise him in secret, watch over his life."
[chorus]
Thus secretly lodged in a nobleman's care
His true name concealed, and his prophesied end
The enchanter as tutor the boy did befriend
And began to make ready the Dragon King's heir
He taught him of wars, and of lands o'er the sea
Of maps and of stars, and of legends of old
Of deeds great and evil, of kings rash and bold
"The sum of all men and their lives you will be."
[slower]
At last the great day of the battle-call's horn
In sight of all men and proclaimed by his sire
He raised the great sword with its runes of white fire...
"Whoso take this sword is the King rightwise born."
[chorus]